Why Breathing Actually Matters for Running (And How to Train It)

In this episode Coaches Caroline and Valerie unpack the breathing craze—what’s helpful, what’s hype, and exactly how to use breathing drills to improve your running. They explain why breathing is a rhythm inside your run (not a distraction), how to practice breathing so it becomes automatic, and simple drills you can use in warm-ups to expand your chest, calm your panic response, and run longer/faster with less effort.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• ✅ Breathing is part of running’s rhythm — practice it as a drill, not as a constant thought during your run.
• ✅ Drills (exaggerated practice) teach your body to take fuller, calmer breaths so your breathing becomes automatic in the “show.”
• ✅ Nose vs. mouth breathing: useful drills exist (and historical methods like Buteyko helped many), but don’t limit your breath during hard efforts — expand it when you need it.
• ✅ Use the exhale-first cue at the start of easy runs (exhale → inhale → run) to release tension and find a steady rhythm quickly.
• ✅ Chest expansion and intercostal mobility let you lift your torso, increase fall, and run with better elasticity — breathing mechanics help speed and endurance.
• ✅ Breathing devices and masks are toys — they can help with drills, but they don’t replace coached progressions and movement training.

What to try this week

• Add a 5-minute breathing warm-up before runs: slow diaphragmatic breathing → chest expansion breath series → 2 minutes of fast, rhythmic exhale-focused steps.
• Try a few drills off the run (bands, balloons, exaggerated chest opens) to feel your ribcage expand before you practice on the move.
• If breath panic hits mid-run: stop → long exhale(s) → a short drill (ball-foot hops or marching) → restart.

SEO keywords (use these in platform tags & show notes)

Breathing for running, diaphragmatic breathing, running drills, breathing drills, run cadence breath, breath training for runners, RunRX Academy, expand chest running, exhale-first running cue.

Listen & follow

• Watch breathing deep dives and demo drills on our YouTube channel: RunRX.
• Download the RunRX Academy app (iOS & Android) for focused drill libraries, warm-ups, and guided breathing progressions.
• Got a breathing question or want Valerie to review your drill form? Post a clip in the app or drop a comment on the latest episode — we read every message.